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Peripheral blood smear in patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Typical schistocytes are annotated. A schistocyte (from Greek schistos for "divided" and kytos for "hollow" or "cell") is a fragmented part of a red blood cell. Schistocytes are sometimes referred to as helmet cells because of their irregular shape from mechanical force ...
In some cases, a peripheral blood smear may show schistocytes, anisocytosis, polychromasia, or poikilocytosis. [7] Direct antiglobulin testing is the only way to confirm DIIHA. Direct antiglobulin testing can determine if complement C3 antibody and/or immunoglobulin G is bound to the red blood cell membrane. [4]
Direct examination of blood under a microscope in a peripheral blood smear may demonstrate red blood cell fragments called schistocytes, red blood cells that look like spheres (spherocytes), and/or red blood cells missing small pieces .
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia may be suspected based on routine medical laboratory tests such as a CBC (complete blood cell count). Automated analysers (the machines that perform routine full blood counts in most hospitals) are designed to flag blood specimens that contain abnormal amounts of red blood cell fragments or schistocytes. [2]
The peripheral blood smear may show fragmented red blood cells (known as schistocytes) due to shear stress from thrombi. However, this finding is neither sensitive nor specific for DIC; A diagnostic algorithm has been proposed by the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.
Pappenheimer bodies (Peripheral Blood / May-Grünwald Giemsa and Prussian blue stain) Pappenheimer bodies are abnormal basophilic granules of iron found inside red blood cells on routine blood stain. [1] They are a type of inclusion body composed of ferritin aggregates, or mitochondria or phagosomes containing aggregated ferritin. They appear ...
Modern complete blood count analyzers can provide an automated white blood cell differential, but they have a limited ability to differentiate immature and abnormal cells, so manual examination of the blood smear is frequently indicated. [5] [6] Blood smear examination is the preferred diagnostic method for certain parasitic infections, such as ...
Rouleaux formation on wet smear. Rouleaux (singular is rouleau) are stacks or aggregations of red blood cells (RBCs) that form because of the unique discoid shape of the cells in vertebrates. The flat surface of the discoid RBCs gives them a large surface area to make contact with and stick to each other; thus forming a rouleau.